By Boluwatife Adedokun
With just 39 days to the Osun State governorship election, media professionals have been urged to prioritise fact-checking, issue-based reporting, responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), and voter education to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The call was made during a two-day Media and Election Stakeholders’ Dialogue organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in partnership with the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase II (EU-SDGN II).
The dialogue brought together journalists, election managers, security agencies, civil society organisations and development partners to examine the media’s role in promoting peaceful, transparent and credible elections ahead of the August 15 governorship poll.
Speaking during one of the sessions, Senior Lecturer at Fountain University, Osogbo, Dr. Rasheed Adebiyi, challenged journalists to shift attention from personality-driven politics to issue-based reporting that enables voters to make informed decisions.
He also urged media practitioners to embrace innovation and professionalism in adapting to the changing media landscape.
“Journalists must stop making excuses and embrace innovation, creativity and professionalism,” Adebiyi said.
Founder of Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe, called on journalists to rethink the impact of their work by asking whether their reporting was improving people’s lives.
Obe encouraged media professionals to move beyond routine “he said, she said” journalism by embracing explanatory reporting, data journalism, compelling storytelling, infographics and fact-based analysis that provide audiences with context rather than merely reporting political exchanges.
He also identified artificial intelligence tools such as Gemini, Perplexity and NotebookLM as valuable resources that can improve newsroom productivity, strengthen research and enhance verification without compromising editorial standards.
“How is your journalism improving people’s lives?” Obe asked participants.
Discussions at the stakeholders’ dialogue also focused on the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation to electoral integrity, with participants warning that false information could fuel violence, suppress voter turnout and undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
Stakeholders stressed that journalists must place accuracy above speed, verification above speculation and public interest above sensationalism.
Participants further advocated solutions journalism and inclusive reporting that amplifies the voices of women, youths, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups throughout the election period.
The dialogue also examined the implementation of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the electronic transmission of election results, with representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies assuring stakeholders of their preparedness for the governorship election.
Project Manager of the Fact-check Osun State Election Coalition, an initiative of the Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development (IICSD), Sodiq Yusuf shared the coalition’s experience in countering election misinformation through timely verification of viral claims and public education.
Participants agreed that collaboration among journalists, fact-checkers, civil society organisations and election stakeholders would be critical to combating misinformation and ensuring voters have access to accurate and credible information.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by participants to strengthen ethical journalism, expand voter education and promote information integrity as Osun prepares for the August 15 governorship election.
